8 Must-Read Home Garage Safety Tips
Garages serve many different purposes for homeowners. While some will use it for its primary purpose of storing a vehicle, others may use it as a workshop, home gym, or storage area. Regardless of its function, accidents can occur in the practical space, as vehicles will come and go, liquids may spill, people can slip, and doors may suddenly close.
You might not consider the potential risks inside a garage until an accident occurs. Yet, there are steps you can take to prevent injuries and protect your loved ones. Check out these eight must-read home garage safety tips.
Install Garage Flooring to Prevent Slips
A garage’s concrete floor may become slippery if vehicle oil spills onto the floor, ice melts, or a loved one walks into the space with wet or muddy shoes on. Slipping can cause minor or serious injuries, as a loved one could pull a muscle in their back, develop painful bruising, fracture a bone, or bang their head on the floor.
Prevent an unwanted slip and painful injuries by reaching out to Garage Floors Direct for garage flooring with a grippy surface underfoot. As it will make the floor less slippery, it will create a safer environment for you and your family, allowing you all to walk on it with confidence.
Remove Flammable Items to Prevent a Fire
Many homeowners will use a garage to store items they don’t want on display in the rest of their home. For example, they might use it to house paint, paper, wood, oil, and other flammable materials, which are fire hazards.
It only takes an unfortunate spill and some ash from a cigarette to cause a major fire, which could pose a risk to your home, vehicle, and, most importantly, your loved ones.
For this reason, you must store potentially flammable materials outside the home, such as inside a shed that can be locked. This will reduce the risk of a fire and provide peace of mind that your home and family are safe and secure.
Declutter Your Garage to Avoid Injuries
Many homeowners don’t hesitate to pile their garage with excess items, such as boxes of old clothes, keepsakes, trophies, and household items.
However, considerable clutter will increase the likelihood of an accident in the space, as a box could fall from a height, a loved one could stand on a shovel’s tip, or they could trip over a toy or appliance.
If you use your garage for storage, you must keep it organized by installing garage racks, bins, or cabinets. This will ensure that every item has its place, free up floor space, and prevent unwanted accidents, such as a bruises, bumps, or cuts.
Don’t forget to routinely declutter the items in your garage to free up space. For example, you could recycle, donate, or sell unwanted belongings to prevent clutter from piling up over the years.
Inspect Your Garage Door Regularly
The last thing you want is for a loved one to experience a trapped finger or body under a closing garage door. Yet, garage door accidents can strike without the appropriate precautions.
Keep yourself and your family members safe by routinely inspecting your garage door for damage or faults, which you must fix immediately. Also, inform your kids about the dangers of standing near an automatic garage door, which will encourage them to step away from it when it’s opening or closing.
Prevent Bumps with Automatic Lighting
A driver could drive a vehicle into a garage door, which is more likely to happen at night when their view is impaired.
If you struggle to see in the dark when driving in and out of the garage, consider installing automatic lighting that will switch on as you approach or leave the property. It will illuminate the space, improving your vision and spatial awareness on a dull morning or dark evening.
Of course, you must always wait until the garage door is fully open before driving a vehicle in or out of the space.
Keep Kids Safe by Locking Drawers and Cabinets
Children are curious by nature and might be tempted to sneak off to explore the garage when at a loose end.
As your garage might house high-powered and handheld tools, heavy items, and dangerous substances, you must ensure that these items are stored safely away in locked drawers and cabinets.
Preventing access to hazardous equipment and materials will reduce the risk of your child sustaining an injury in the garage.
Always Store Your Ladders Horizontally
Many homeowners position a ladder vertically against a wall after performing DIY tasks, painting, wallpapering, or hanging exterior Christmas lights. However, placing the ladders vertically may cause them to come tumbling down onto your car or a loved one.
A ladder could cause serious damage to your vehicle or result in a painful injury to you, a child, or a pet. For instance, your energetic dog might not hesitate to run around your garage, which could cause the ladders to fall to the floor.
Prevent the worst from happening by storing your ladders horizontally on the floor and in a closed position to reduce the risk of an accident.
Install a Sink to Clean Up Quickly
As previously mentioned, a garage has various potential dangers lurking inside it, such as slippery concrete and flammable materials. If you’re worried about the above issues, consider installing a utility sink in the functional space, as it’ll allow you to quickly clean up any mess.
For example, you could immediately wash your hands or body if you’re exposed to a toxic or flammable material. Also, you can use the sink to wash a chemical spill off your flooring with hot, soapy water, which you should leave to dry before allowing anyone to enter.
A few small mistakes could cause a big risk to yourself, your vehicle, or your loved ones. Execute the above tips in your garage when applicable to create a safer environment for everyone and prevent damage to your car or your property.